IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


4 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


IttlM    12.5 

■50  "^^     RMBI 

ut  lU   12.2 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


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Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checlced  below. 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculde 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  niaterial/ 
Reli^  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrdo  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouttes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6x6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimentaires: 


The« 
toth 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normaie  de  filmage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  pellicul6es 

0    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu« 


The 
poss 
of  th 
filmi 


Origi 
begi! 
the  I 
sion, 
othe 
first 
sion, 
or  ill 


Pages  d6color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu6es 

Pages 

Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  indgale  de  {'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materU 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppldmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


I      I  Pages  detached/ 

rri  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


The 
shall 
TINL 
whic 

Mapi 
diffe 
entir 
begi  I 
right 
requi 
meth 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  At^  fiim^es  6  nouveau  de  fapon  6 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  c!-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


S 


24X 


28X 


32X 


lire 

details 
jes  du 
modifier 
jer  une 
filmage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanlts 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  fiimd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


6e8 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimee  sont  film6s  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  •— »>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE ',  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


re 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  I'angle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


i  errata 

id  to 

It 

le  pelure, 

9on  h 


n 


1  2  3 


32X 


t  2  3 

4  5  6 


/ 


THE  I 


ON 


ORATION, 


r  "A 


ON   TUB  OCCASION  OF  CELEBKATINO 


THE  FORTIETH  ANNIVERSARY 


oy 


THE  BATTLE  OF  LAKE  ERIE ; 


bSLIVBBBD 


ON  THE  TENTH  OP  SEPTEMBER,   1833, 


IN   NEWPORT,  R.  I. 


mt 


GEORGE   H.  CALVERT. 


SECOND    EDITION. 


'««*.< 


f*^ 


:»5iiJ 


%  ».<>■»■■ 


PROVIDBNCEj 

B.  T.  ALBRO  -  PRINTER. 

1854. 


A 
("54 


2  6  2  3  2  7 


Kewioiw;  September  Ilth,  iSSS.- 
0.  H.  Calveut,  E.savr — 

DuAU  Sia, —  At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  on  Monday" 
evening,  12th,  it  was  voted  unanimously  that  a  copy  of  your  very  able  ond  do-- 
qucnt  discourse  on  thr  10th  bere:iuested  for  publication. 

Very  rogpectfully, 

11.  E.  TuKNr.u, 

Secretary.- 


NiiwrouT,  li.  I.,  September  ICth,  1853. 
Deau  Hm, — 
I  acknowledge  with  much  gratification  the  receipt  of  your  note  of  the  Ilth,. 
requesting,  in  behalf  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  n  copy  for  publications 
of  the  adtlress  I  delivered  on  the  10th  instant. 

It  -will  give  mo  much  pleasure  to  comply  with  this  request,  and  so  soon  as  I 
shall  have  Avritten  Out  the  address  I  will  transmit  it  to  you. 

Most  respuctfully  yours, 

G.  II.  CAtVEHT,- 

Dit.  H»HttY  E.  TuiiNEU,  Secrclari/r 


I 


7 


Monday 
I  and  elo-- 


ORATION, 


'>ecrctary.- 


,  1853. 

:)f  the  1  Ulv 
publication 

9  soon  08  I^ 


Calvert.- 


Pellow-Citizens  :  — 

"VVe  have  met  to  comiHemorate  a  glorious  national  event. 
And  we  of  Rhode  Island  and  of  Newport  liavc  so  met,  because 
the  leader  therein,  and  many  of  the  agents  therein,  were  our 
ifcUow- citizens,  our  fellow- townsmen.  Patriotism,  thankful- 
ness, and  an  honorable  jiride  luring  us  togetlier  to  celebrate  the 
•fortieth  anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  Lake  Eric. 

For  a  people  overflowing  with  prosperity,  already  colossal  in 
power,  it  is  a  privilege,  as  it  is  a  most  grateful  duty,  to  do  honor 
to  those  who,  at  a  time  of  })Overty  and  weakness,  by  the  wealth 
of  their  individual  resources,  by  the  power  of  strong  arms  and 
strong  hearts,  performed  deeds  that  were  at  once  the  prophecies 
and  the  sources  of  national  wealth  and  national  power.  The 
secure  comforts  of  our  countless  American  homes,  the  millions 
of  happy  hearths  that  send  up  their  smoke  to-day,  over  our 
blessed  land,  all  draw  some  of  their  warmth  from  the  warm 
blood  that  was  shed  on  the  decks  of  the  Erie  fleet.  The 
strength  of  tlie  arms  that,  through  the  iron  hail  of  the  enemy, 
bore  Perry  in  his  "boat  from  a  shattered  to  a  fresh  ship, —  that 
strength  has  multiplied  itself  upon  the  nation.  A  brave  battle 
is  a  national  fortification  for  ever.  High  deeds  of  arms,  done 
in  a  just  cause,  arc  creative :  they  live  not  in  the  memory  only, 
they  live  too  in  iho  heart. 


But  from  the  beginning  of  our  history,  tho  military  lias  boen 
entirely  subordinated  to  the  civil  power.  Therefore  it  is,  that 
that  history  is  so  significant,  so  instructive,  so  elevated.  We 
achieved  our  independence  by  a  war  for  i)riiici[)les ;  we  pre- 
served and  confirmed  it  by  a  second  war;  for  tho  war  of  1812 
was  but  the  finishing  of  that  of  1776. 

Into  tlie  second,  as  into  the  first,  wc  entered  reluctantly, 
forced  into  it  by  the  righteous  necessities  of  self-preservation ; 
after  we  had  for  years  borne  assumptions  and  insolences,  a  frac- 
tion whereof  would  now  firo  the  whole  country  into  instanta- 
neous war.  But  in  1812  national  spirit  was  not,  and  logically 
could  not  bo,  in  those  United  State?.  Although  by  a  sublime 
struggle  we  had  rid  ourselves  of  the  political  supremacy  of 
England,  wo  were  intellectually,  scientifically,  industrially,  de- 
pendent on  her.  She  ruled  over  us  still,  by  the  unavoidable,, 
and  I  may  say  healthy,  predominance  of  the  mature  mother  over 
tho  daughter  yet  in  her  teens. 

When  Congress  declared  war  against  Great  Britain  in  1812, 
the  English  navy  counted  one  thousand  sail ;  that  of  the  United 
States,  eighteen,  nine  of  them  frigates,  and  nine  of  a  class  be- 
low frigates.  This  unparalleled  magnitude  of  naval  power, 
backed  too  by  the  prestige  of  British  invincibility  at  sea,  was 
still  further  magnified  by  the  general,  almost  universal,  Ameri- 
can deference  to  supposed  Eiigh'sh  superiority.  The  sense  of 
hopeless  weakness,  in  the  presence  of  such  a  mighty  armament 
came  nigh  to  be  officially  embodied  in  an  order  from  the  Fed- 
eral Government  to  lay  up  our  public  vessels  in  ordinary,  to  pre- 
vent their  being  captured  by  the  enemy ;  an  order  which  it  i» 
positively  asserted  would  have  been  issited,  but  for  the  remon- 
strance of  two  naval  officers,  liainbridge  and  Stewart,  (names; 
that  are  otherwise  dear  to  the  American  heart,)  who  sought  an 
interview  with  President  Madison,  and  soon  convinced  him  of 
the    folly  and  wrong  of   such  a  procedure ;    whereujjon   Mr. 


our 


I 


[as  bopn 

is,  that 

bd.     We 

I  we  pre- 

lof  1812 

[nctantly, 
Jrvation ; 
\s,  a  frac- 
instanta- 
logically 
sublime 
;macy  of 
rially,  de- 
ivoidable^ 
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in  1812, 
le  United 

class  be- 
ll power^ 

sea,  was 
1,  Ameri- 
sense  of 
rmament 
the  Fed- 
r,  to  pre- 
lich  it  i» 
!  remon- 

(names; 
light  an 

him  of 
ion   Mr. 


o 

Madison  took  upon  himself  against  the  wish  and  advice  of  liis 
Cabinet,  to  with-hold  the  order. 

These  gentlemen,  with  the  small  band  of  their  naval  breth- 
ren, were  in  advance  of  the  general  feeling  and  knowledge  of 
the  country.  And  needful  is  it  for  the  well-being  of  a  country 
that,  in  the  high  spheres  of  thought  and  action,  it  always  have 
some  men  who  are  in  advance  of  the  common  knowledge  and 
common  conviction.  Witli  bold  self-reliance  these  oflicers  went 
ahead  ;  they  spoke  out  their  convictions  ;  th^^y  spoke  them  out 
in  the  teeth  of  the  government ;  and  very  soon  they  made  good 
their  words  by  their  deeds.  ' 

It  were  a  grateful  task  to  dwell  for  a  few  moments  on  our 
first  naval  triumphs,  especially  the  first  capture  of  a  British 
frigate,  the  Guerriere,  by  the  Constitution,  under  Hull ;  the 
moral  effect  of  which,  I  might  say  without  an  exaggerated  fig- 
ure of  speech,  was,  that  it  made  old  England  turn  jwle,  while 
young  America  it  flushed  with  the  glow  of  a  new  power.  But 
our  own  theme  is  large  and  rich  enough  to  engross  us  to-day. 

For  accomplishing  their  purjiosc  of  protecting  the  northern 
frontier,  and  invading  Canada,  our  government  soon  perceived 
that  a  naval  force  on  liakc  Eric  was  indispensable. 

In  the  winter  of  1812  and  1813  there  was  stationed  at  New- 
port a  fleet  of  gun-boats,  commanded  by  a  eitize;^  of  Rhode 
Island,  our  fellow-townsman,  Oliver  Hazard  Perry,  at  that  time 
a  commander  in  the  navy.  Discontented  with  a  duty  so  inglo- 
rious, and  "possessing," — to  quote  from  one  of  his  letters  of 
that  period, —  "  possessing  an  ardent  desire  to  meet  the  enemies 
of  my  country,"  Captain  Perry  applied  for  and  obtained  the 
command  on  Lake  Erie.  He  immediately  sent  forward  a  large 
body  of  men,  who,  having  become  attached  to  him  while  under 
his  orders  at  Newport,  volunteered  for  this  remote  service.  On 
the  22d  of  February  he  himself  set  out,  and  after  a  long, 
tedious  journey, —  i>nrt  of  it  through  a  region  which  was  at  that 


0 


timn  almost  a  wikloriioss,  Inniig  dc^taiiird,  too,  a  fortnight  at 
Sackett's  Harbor,  with  Commodoro  Chauiicey, —  on  the  'iTtli 
of  March  he  readied  the  village  of  Erie,  on  a  small  bay,  abont 
half-way  up  the  lake. 

The  work  Captain  A;rry  had  to  do  was,  first  to  create  a  t\ov.t, 
mid  then,  with  that  fleet,  to   beat   the   British   fleet, —  work 
enough  for  a  young  man  of  twenty-seven.     The  American  fleet 
was  still  growing  on  the  shore  of  tiie  lake.     Little  had  been 
done  :   of  the  materials  and   stores  needed,  scarcely  any  had 
been  provided.     Not  half  the  mechanics  had  arrived.     Not  a 
cannon  was  yet  on  the  ground,  nor  iron,  nor  cordage,  nor  can- 
vas.    Everything  re(iuiied  to  ecpiip  and  arm  a  fleet  had  to  be 
brought  long  distances  over  bad  roads.     There  was  not  even  a 
cartridge  in  the  ])lace  for  defence  of  the  shijvyards.     Against 
obstacles  and  dilliculties,  against  delays  and    disappointments, 
through  chagrins  and  mortifications.  Captain  Perry  worked  with 
such  rapid  and  intelligent  energy,  that  by  the  2 1th  of  May  all 
his  vessels  were  launched, —  two  twenty-gun  brigs  and  three 
gnn-boat3. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  learning  that  Commodore  Chauncey  had 
come  up  to  the  western  end  of  Lake  Ontario,  for  the  purpose  of 
making  a  combined  attack  by  land  and  water  on  Fort  George, 
Captain  Perry  set  out  at  nightfall  in  a  boat  to  join  him.  Ac- 
cording to  previous  agreement  between  him  and  Commodore 
Chauncey,  he  had  command  of  the  sailors  and  marines  em- 
ployed in  the  attack,  to  the  success  of  which  he,  by  his  milita- 
ry judgment,  promptness  and  courage,  largely  contributed.  His 
services,  were,  in  the  official  report,  warmly  acknowledged  by 
Commodore  Chauncey,  who,  in  concluding,  said :  —  "He  was 
present  at  every  point  where  he  could  be  useful,  under  showers 
of  musketry,  but  fortunately  escaped  unhurt." 

One  of  the  first  fruits  of  this  victory  was,  that  it  liberated 
five  small  vessels  belonging  to  our  government,  which  had  been 


he 

thrj 
of 
aft< 
to 


sh 


lortnighl  al 

|)ii  Iho  2rt!i 

bay,  a1)oiit 

rcatc  a  floet, 
Icct, —  work 
iTiericaii  floftt 
tie  had  been 
cly  any  had 
ived.     Not  a 
ago,  nor  can- 
cot  had  to  be 
as  not  even  a 
inls.     Against 
aj)pointnients, 
/■  worked  Avith 
1th  of  May  all 
rigs  and  three 

Channcey  had 
the  purpose  of 
1  Fort  George, 
oin  him,  Ac- 
d  Commodore 
I  marines  em- 
by  his  milita- 
itributcd.  His 
nowledged  by 
'■'-  —  "He  was 
under  showers 

lat  it  liberated 
'hioh  had  l)een 


blockaded  at  Black  Rock,  by  the  enemies'  batteries  on  the  Can- 
ada shore.  These  ('ajUain  Perry  dragged,  with  great  labor, 
against  the  rapid  current  of  the  Niap,ara  River,  into  Lake  Erie  ; 
and,  setting  sail  with  them  from  Buffalo,  by  boldness  and  skill 
he  eluded  the  British  Sipiadron,  and  reached  Erie  with  his  ilotil- 
la  on  the  18th  of  June.  The  eiiuipping  of  the  vessels  was  now 
pushed  forward  as  fast  as  it  could  be.  By  the  lOth  of  July  the 
guns  were  all  mounted.  The  great  want  was  men.  Here  the 
government  had  failed  in  its  duty.  On  the  15th  of  July  there 
were  but  120  fit  for  service,  just  enough  to  man  one  of  the 
twenty-gun  brigs.  The  British  squadron  was  cruising  off  tlie 
harbor,  as  if  to  beard  the  Americans  ;  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
and  General  Harrison  were  writing  letters,  urging  Captain  Perry 
to  action.  How  galling  must  have  been,  under  these  circum- 
stances, enforced  inactivity,  to  an  eager,  manly  spirit,  burning 
with  desire  to  grapple  with  the  enemy,  and  fully  conscious  of 
the  importance  of  the  part  intrusted  to  him,  and  of  the  hopes 
of  the  country  !  *  At  last,  on  the  2d  of  August,  having  re- 
ceived several  driblets  of  reinforcements,  he  took  advantage  of 
a  temporary  absence  of  the  British  squadron,  to  get  his  two 
brigs  over  the  bar  ;  and  immediately,  although  himself,  his  offi- 
cers and  men,  were  exhausted  by  forced  work  and  loss  of  rest, 
he  cleared  his  decks  for  action,  and  with  a  fleet  hardly  more 
than  half-manned,  weighing  anchor  before  daybreak,  on  the  Gth 
of  August,  stood  out  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  The  next  day, 
after  a  fruitless  cruise,  the  wind  being  unfavorable,  he  returned 
to  Erie. 

On  the  9th,  Captain  Perry  received  from  Commodore  Chaun- 
cey  a  most  welcome  addition  of  one  hundred  men  and  oiflcers ; 
and  having  taken  on  board  military  stores  for  the  army,  and 
ranging  his  vessels  in  battle  order,  so  as  to  engage  the  enemy 
should  he  fall  in  with  him  on  the  way,  he  set  sail  on  the  r2th 

*  Sec  Aiipcndix  A. 


8 


of  August  (or  tho  upper  oiul  of  the  lake,  thcro  to  co-oporiilc  wjlh 
General  Harrison. 

With  the  liveliest  joy,  tho  army  hailed  the  arrival  of  tlio 
American  squadron  off  Sandusky.  Gcn<!ral  Harrison,  vvitli  a 
numerous  suite  of  officers  and  Indian  chiefs,  hastened  on  board 
to  greet  him.  From  (Jloneral  Harrison  Captain  l*crry  received 
his  last  reinforcement,  in  a  draft  from  the  ranks  of  the  army 
of  about  forty-five  volunteers,  chiefly  Kentuckians.  Theso 
brave  fellows,  though  till  then  they  liad  never  seen  a  man-of- 
war,  were  ready,  after  a  few  days  drilling  at  tho  guns,  to  do  ex- 
cellent service  on  the  10th  of  September.  A  country  that  is  so 
strongly  braced  by  freedom,  as  to  rear  independent,  self-reliant 
citizens,  will  never  in  time  of  need  lack  fighters. 

In  the  mean  time  the  British  squadron  was  lying  sheltered  in 
the  harbor  of  Maiden,  waiting  for  the  Detroit,  its  largest  ship, 
built  for  this  occasion,  and  not  yet  fully  equipped.  Sailing  over 
to  Maiden,  Captain  Perry  returned  the  visits  which  Captain  Bar- 
clay had  paid  him  at  Erie,  running  on  the  1st  of  September 
very  close  in,  and  continuing  all  day  off  the  harbor  with  his 
colors  set.  The  enemy  showing  no  disposition  to  accept  his 
offer  of  battle,  he  bore  away  again. 

On  the  9th  of  September,  the  American  squadron  lay  moored 
in  Put-in  Bay,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Sandusky.  In  the  even- 
ing, Captain  Perry  summoned  on  board  his  vessel  the  comman- 
ders, to  receive  final  instructions  for  their  guidance  during  the 
expected  battle.  To  each  of  them  he  gave  a  written  order, 
which  concluded  as  follows :  "  Engage  each  your  designated 
adversary  in  close  action,  at  half  cable's  length."  And  on  part- 
ing, he  further  enforced  this  order  with  words  quoted  from  Nel- 
son :  "  If  you  lay  your  enemy  alongside,  you  cannot  be  out  of 
your  place." 

At  sunrise  on  the  10th,  from  the  masthead  of  the  American 
flag-ship,  the  British  squadron  was  descried  to  the  northwest, 


one  gu« 
ollicorsl 
the  daj 
The 
three 
seveutl 
gvnis 
had 
Amerl 
three] 
thirtd 


Vo(;>vJ 


'•porulc  Willi 

Irivul  of  tlio 
Ison,  witli  a 
led  oil  board 
[rry  recoivcd 
>f  the  army 
[lis.      Theso 
m  a  man-of- 
Ins,  to  do  ex- 
jtry  that  is  so 
ft,  sclf-reliaiit 

sheltered  in 

largest  ship, 

Sailing  over 

Captain  Bar- 

of  September 

•bor  with  his 

to  accept  his 

n  lay  moored 
In  the  even- 
the  comman- 
56  during  the 
rritten  order, 
r  designated 
And  on  part- 
ed from  Nel- 
lot  be  out  of 

le  American 
3  northwest, 


boarino;  down  towards  Piit-in  Bay.  Captain  Perry  instantly 
ordered  signal  to  be  made  "  to  get  under  way,"  and  in  a  few 
niiiuitos  tlie  whole  8(|na(lroii  was  beating  out  of  the  liarbor  with 
a  light  breeze  from  the  soulJiwcst.  The  wind  being  light  and 
unsteady,  l>eating  out  was  slow  and  tedious.  Growing  inipa- 
ti'iit,  Captain  I'crry  directed  iho  sailing-mastor  of  the  Lawrence, 
Mr.  VV.  V.  'J'aylor,  to  wear  sliii).  Mr.  Taylor  (who  is  present 
hcr(!  to-day)  remarked,  that  they  would  then  have  to  engage  the 
enemy  from  to  leeward.  To  this  Captain  Perry  replied :  "  I 
don't  care,  to  windward  or  to  leeward,  they  shall  fight  to-day." 
Ilajjpily  the  wind  suddenly  changed  to  the  southeast,  and  by 
ten  o'clock  the  Aniericau  s()ua(lroii  liad  cleared  the  islands,  still 
keeping  the  weathorgagc.  When  the  wind  shifted,  the  British 
sijuadron  hove  to,  distant  six  or  seven  miles. 

The  American  s([uadron  consisted  of  nine  vessels,  carrying 
lifty-four  guns.  These  were,  tho  Lawrence  *  and  the  Niagara, 
brigs,  each  carrying  twenty  guns ;  the  Ariel,  schooner,  of  four 
guns  ;  the  Caledonia,  of  three  ;  the  Scorpion  of  two  ;  the  Som- 
ers,  of  two ;  and  the  Tigris,  Trippe,  and  Porcupine,  each  of 
one  gun.  The  crews  of  these  nine  vessels  counted  (including 
ollicors)  barely  five  hundred  men,  one  Inuidred  of  whom,  were, 
the  day  of  the  battle,  on  the  sick  list. 

The  British  wiuadron  consisted  of  six  vessels,  carrying  sixty- 
three  guns.  The  Detroit,  of  nineteen;  the  Q,ueen  Chari  itte  of 
seventeen  ;  these  two  were  ships,  and  although  carrying  three 
guns  less  than  the  Lawrence  and  the  Niagara,  were  stouter,  and 
had  more  long  guns.  Now  observe,  that  in  enumerating  the 
American  vessels,  next  to  the  two  largest,  come  two  of  four  and 
three  guns  ;  whereas,  next  to  the  two  largest  British,  are  two  of 
thirteen  and  ten  guns,  the  Lady  Prevost  and  the  Hunter.    Theso 


*  ^Vllile  she  was  on  the  stocks  at  Krie,  news  came  of  the  heroic  fight  of  tho 
OhcHnpenkc,  in  honor  of  whose  commander  she  was  named,  by  order  of  the  Sec  - 
lol;>vv  of  tho  Navv. 


10 


four  carried  fifty-nine  gnns,  boing  five  more  than  the  whole 
American  s(inudroii,  besides  tlio  advantage  of  concentrating 
them  on  a  few  vessels.  The  Little  Belt  and  Chippewa  carried 
two  or  three  guns  each.  The  number  of  men  in  the  two  fleets 
is  estimated  to  have  been  about  equal.  The  commanders  in 
the  British  squadron  were  generally  of  higher  grade  than  those 
of  the  American,  and  of  more  naval  experience.  Their  gallant 
Commodore,  Barclay,  had  been  with  Nelson  at  Trafalgar.  Cap- 
tain Perry  had  never  before  even  witnessed  the  movement  of 
vessels  combined  in  a  fleet  ranged  for  battle. 

Captain  Perry  now  made  a  final  inspection  of  his  ship.  Com- 
ing to  some  men  who  had  been  in  the  Constitution,  he  said  to 
them;  "Well,  boys,  arc  you  ready?  "  "All  ready,  your  hon- 
or." "  But  I  need  say  nothing  to  you,"  he  added,  "  you  know 
how  to  beat  those  fellows."  Recognizing  some  of  his  towns- 
men, he  exclaimed,  "Ah!  here  are  the  Newport  boys ;  they'll 
do  their  duty,  I  warrant."  Then,  taking  from  his  state-room  a 
large  flag,  lie  mounted  on  a  gun,  and  calling  his  crew  around 
him,  he  addressed  them  :  "  My  brave  lads,  on  this  flag  are  the 
dying  words  of  Captain  Iiawrence !  Shall  I  hoist  it  ?  "  "Ay, 
ay,  sir !  "  And  in  a  moment,  from  the  masthead  of  the  Law- 
rence floated  the  flag,  on  which  in  large  letters,  as  the  battle-cry 
of  the  day,  were  inscribed  the  words, — "  Don't  give  up  the 
Ship  !  "  As  the  crews  of  the  other  vessels  caught  sight  of 
them,  thoy  sent  uj)  an  enthusiastic  shout.  And  the  sick  below, 
learning  the  cause  of  the  shout,  many  of  them  came  up  on  the 
decks,  to  offer  their  feeble  services  ;  —  such  life  is  there  in  the 
dying  words  of  a  hero.  To  one  of  those  on  board  the  Law- 
rence, Mr.  Taylor  vsaid,  "Go  below,  Mays,  you  are  too  weak  to 
be  here."  "  I  can  do  something,  sir."  "  What  can  you  do  ?  " 
"  I  can  sound  the  piunp,  sir,  and  let  a  strong  man  go  to  the 
guns."  lie  sat  down  l)y  the  pump,  and  sent  the  strong  man  to 
the  guns  ;  and  when  the  fight  was  ended,  there  he  was  found 


in  the  whole 
concentrating 
Ippewa  carried 
the  two  fleets 
)mmanders  in 
ide  than  those 
Their  gallant 
|afalgar.     Cap- 
movement  of 

s  ship.     Com- 
ion,  he  said  to 
dy,  your  hon- 
1,  "  you  know 
of  his  towns- 
boys  ;  they  '11 
is  state-room  a 
s  crew  around 
lis  flag  are  the 
t  it  ?  "     "Ay, 
I  of  the  Law- 
the  battle-cry 

GIVE    UP   THE 

ight  sight  of 
e  sick  below, 
ne  up  on  the 
s  there  in  the 
rd  the  Law- 
i  too  weak  to 
m  you  do  ?  " 
n  go  to  the 
rong  man  to 
le  was  found 


11 

with  a  ball  through  his  heart.      He  was  from  Newport ;  his 
name  was  Wilson  Mays. 

The  solemn  suspense  was  at  last  broken,  at  a  quarter  before 
twelve,  by  a  bugle  sounded  on  board  the  Detroit,  and  answered 
by  cheers  from  the  whole  British  squadron.  This,  their  con- 
certed signal  for  action,  was  quickly  followed  by  a  shot  from 
the  Detroit,  aimed  at  the  Lawrence,  which  did  not  take  effect. 
A  second  shot  passed  through  her  bulwarks.  At  five  minutes 
before  twelve,  the  Ijawrence  returned  the  fire,  and  then,  the 
Ariel  and  Scorpion  on  her  weather-bow,  and  the  Caledonia  and 
Niagara  astern,  opening  with  their  long  guns,  and  all  the  Brit- 
ish vessels  doing  the  same,  the  engagement  became  general  at 
noon,  but  at  long  distance,  the  two  squadrons  being  on  an 
average,  about  a  mile  apart. 

Captain  Perry  finding,  that,  from  the  superiority  of  the  Brit- 
ish -n  long  guns,  he  was  suffering  more  damage  than  he  could 
inflict,  passed  the  word  by  trumpet  to  the  other  vessels  to  close 
up,  and,  crowding  sail  on  the  Lawrence,  bore  down  to  within 
three  hundred  feet  of  the  Detroit,  where  he  opened  a  rapid,  des- 
tructive fire.  The  Ariel,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Packet,  the 
Scorpion,  Mr.  Champlain,  and  the  Caledonia,  Midshipman  Tur- 
ner, had  closed  in  company  with  him,  the  Caledonia,  with  her 
three  guns,  diverting  from  the  Lawrence,  in  so  far  as  she  could, 
the  fire  of  the  Hunter,  with  ten  guns.  The  Queen  Charlotte, 
when  she  saw  that  her  carronades  did  not  reach  the  Niagara, 
filled  her  main  topsail  at  about  half  past  twelve,  passed  the 
Hunter,  and  placing  herself  astern  of  the  Detroit,  opened  fire 
upon  the  Lawrence.  For  two  hours  did  Captain  Perry  and  his 
ship  stand  the  brunt  of  the  battle  ;  for,  although  he  was  gallant- 
ly supported,  and  as  vigorously  as  could  be  with  their  small  ar- 
maments by  the  Caledonia,  Lieutenant  Turner,  Ariel,  Lieuten- 
ant Packet,  and  the  Scorpion,  Mr.  Champlin,  the  batteries  of 


12 


the  Detroit,  the  Uueeu  Charlotte,  and  the  Hunter  were,  during 
all  that  time,  chiefly  leveled  at  the  Lawrence.* 

At  half  past  two  o'clock,  out  of  one  hundred  and  one  sound 
men,  wherewith  the  Ijawrence  had  gone  into  action,  twenty- 
two  were  killed,  and  sixty-one  wounded,  a  slaughter  unprece- 
dented in  naval  warfare  !  Hor  rigging  was  shot  away,  her  spars 
were  splintered,  her  sails  torn  to  pieces,  her  guns  dismounted ; 
she  lay  a  helpless  wreck  on  the  water.  Captain  Perry  had  him- 
self just  assisted  to  fire  her  last  gun.  He  ordered  the  boat  to  be 
lowered  ;  and,  saying  to  his  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Yarnall, — ^^vho, 
though  severely  wounded,  refused  to  stay  below, —  "  I  leave  to 
your  discretion  to  strike  or  not,  but  the  American  colors  must 
not  come  down  over  my  head  to-day,"  ho  took  the  battle-flag 
under  his  arm,  and  descended  into  the  boat. 

My  fellow-citizens,  we  who  live  near  the  sea  know,  that,  after 
a  short  experience  on  water,  every  one  conforms  to  the  univer- 
sal practice  of  sitting  down  the  moment  he  enters  a  boat,  having 
learned  by  a  few  trials  that  this  is  necessary  always  to  the 
trimming  of  a  boat,  and  often  to  its  safety.  Captain  Perry 
stood  erect  in  the  stern  as  the  boat  pushed  off,  and  it  was  only 
upon  the  urgent  entreaties,  and  finally,  it  is  said,  even  threats  of 
the  oarsmen,  that  he  sat  down.  Now  this  standing  up  proceeded 
from  neither  thoughtlessness  nor  design  ;  it  was  simply  the  un- 
conscious emphatic  expression  of  the  unconquered,  unconquera- 
ble spirit  of  the  man. 

A  few  minutes  later,  the  Lawrence,  not  having  a  gun  that 
could  be  fired,  nor  men  to  work  it  if  there  had  been  one,  hauled 
down  her  colors.  As  the  American  colors  came  down,  there 
went  up  from  the  British  ships  a  shout  of  triumph ;  and  the 
wounded  in  the  Lawrence  learning  the  cause  of  this  shout,  their 
hearts  sank  within  them  ;  they  refused  to  be  tended  by  the  sur- 

I  ■        w 

*  See  Appendix  B. 


geou,  cr 
.  ^hip! 
of  theii 

IJnsc 

him  hi 

that  he 

ra,  whi 

with  b 

■out  the 

went  I 

showii 

He  pu 

the  ei 

ahot  b 

and  tl 

poure( 

broad 

he  ro 

got  f 

deadl 

As 

agair 
ed  b 
fillet 
Stev 
to  b 
dow 
clos 
,     Cal( 

]\ 
astf 
and 
tiin 


13 


ter  were,  during 

and  one  sound 

action,  twenty- 
ughter  unprecc- 

away,  her  spars 
nis  dismounted ; 

Perry  had  him- 
ed  the  boat  to  bo 

Yarnall, — who, 
w, —  "  I  leave  to 
ican  colors  must 
k  the  battle-flag 

know,  that,  after 
IS  to  the  univer- 
rs  a  boat,  having 
y  always  to  the 
Captain  Perry 
,  and  it  was  only 
i,  even  threats  of 
ing  up  proceeded 
s  simply  the  un- 
ired,  unconquera- 

ving  a  gun  tliat 
been  one,  hauled 
ime  down,  there 
iumph;  and  the 
this  shout,  their 
ided  by  the  sur- 


geon, crying  our  in  their  anguish, — ^ "  Sink  the  ship !  sink  the 
ship !  Let  us  all  sink  together  !  "  There  was  a  crew  worthy 
of  their  commander,  and  a  commander  worthy  of  his  crew. 

Unscathed  by  the  shower  of  grape  and  bullets  that  followed 
him  in  the  boat.  Captain  Perry,  in  ten  minutes  from  the  time 
that  he  quitted  the  Lawrence,  mounted  the  sides  of  the  Niaga- 
ra, which  vessel  he  found  untouched  in  her  si«ir»s  or  rigging,  and 
with  but  three  men  wounded  on  her  decks.  He  quickly  hcve 
■out  the  signal  for  close  action,  which,  as  the  answering  pendants 
went  up,  was  greeted  with  hearty  cheers  throughout  the  line, 
showing  the  revived  hope  and  spirit  of  the  whole  squadron. — 
He  put  up  the  helm  of  the  Niagara,  bore  directly  down  upon 
the  enemy,  broke  through  his  line,  and,  passing  at  half  pistol- 
ohot  between  the  Lady  Prevost  and  Chipj)ewa  on  his  larboard, 
and  the  Detroit,  Q,ueen  Charlotte,  and  Hunter  on  his  starboard, 
poured  in,  right  and  left,  from  double-shotted  guns,  terrific 
broadsides ;  then,  ranging  ahead  of  the  ships  on  his  starboard, 
he  rounded  to,  raked  the  Detroit  and  Q,ueen  Charlotte,  that  had 
got  foul  of  each  other,  and  continued  to  deliver  a  close  and 
deadly  fire. 

As  the  Lawrence  fell  out  of  the  line  to  windward,  her  place 
against  the  Detroit  had  been  taken  by  the  Caledonia,  command- 
ed by  our  townsman,  Mr.  Daniel  Turner,  while  her  place,  was 
filled  by  the  Trippe,  a  fast  sailor,  commanded  by  Mr.  Holdup 
Stevens ;  and  these  gallant  young  men  had  exchanged  signals 
to  board  the  Detroit,  when  they  perceived  the  Niagara  bearing 
down  to  break  the  British  line.  In  that  grand  movement,  so 
closely  was  Perry  followed  by  Turner,  that  the  jib-boom  of  the 
Caledonia  touched  the  stern  of  the  Niagara. 

Meanwhile,  the  freshened  breeze  had  brought  up  the  vessels 
astern,  the  Somers,  Mr.  Almy,  the  Tigris,  Lieutenant  Conklin, 
and  the  Porcupine,  Midshipman  Senat ;  and  now,  for  the  first 
time  during  the  action,  the  whole  American  squadron,  except 


14 

the  disabled  Lawrence,  was,  at  the  same  moment,  actively  en- 
gaged. In  eight  minntes  from  the  time  that  Captain  Ferry 
broke  Iheir  line,  the  British  color*  came  down. 

The  battle  ended  at  three  o'cFock.  The  cannon  hushed. — 
The  deep  silence  of  nature,  so  Jong  banished  from  the*  lake, 
suddenly  re  mimed,  broken  only  by  the  cries  of  the  woundad  and 
the  dying.  As  the  wind  bore  away  the  intermingled  smoke, 
the  British  squadron  was  discovered  to  be  nearly  inclosed  by  the 
American.  This  was  the  first  American  fleet  that  ever  in  line- 
of  battle  encountered  an  enemy.  The  British  fleet  was  the 
first  fleeti,  since  England  had  a  navy,  that  had  been  captured. 

At  four  o'clock,  when  the  most  pressing  needs  of  the  moment 
had  been  supplied.  Captain  Perry  withdrew  to  the  cabin,  to 
communicate  the  victory  to  General  Harrison.  This  he  did  in 
the  folJowing  words :  — 

"  Dear  Geweral  ; 

"We  have  met  the  enemy,  and  they  are  ours.  Two  ships, 
two  brigs,  one  schooner,  and  one  sloop.  Yours,  with  greati  ne- 
spect  and  esteem, 

"  Oi  H.  PERRY."- 


At  the  same  time,  he  wrote  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy:: — 


"U.  S.  Brig  Niagarn,  off  the  WeBtemmost  Sister, 
Head  of  Lake  Eric,  Sept..  10,  1813,  4  P.  M. 


"  Sir  ; 


"  It  has  pleased  the  Almighty  to  give  to  the  arms  of  the 

United  States  a  signal  victory  <"ver  their  enemi«s  on  this  lake. 

The  British  squadron,  consisting  of  two  ships,  two  brigs,  one 

schooner,  and  one  sloop,  have  this  moment  suurendered  to  the 

force  under  my  command,  after  a  sharp  conflict. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir,  very  respectfullly,  your  obedient 

servant, 

«  O.  IL  PERRY." 


by 


1^ 


lent,  actively  eii- 
it  Captain  Perry 

lannon  hushed. — 
'd  from  the'  lake, 
the  woundad  and 
irmingled  smoke, 
ly  inclosed  By  the 
that  ever  in  line 
tish  fleet  was  the 
I  been  captured, 
eds  of  the  mDment 
to  the  caiiin,  to 
This  he  did  in 


ours.     Two  ships, 
ours,  with  greaft  ne- 

a.  PERRY."- 

7  of  the  Navy:: — 

he  Westernmost  Sister, 
!pt..lO,  1813,  4  1'.  M. 

to  the  arms  of  the 
Tii«s  on  this  lak«. 
ipi^  two  brigs,  one 
murendered  to  thw 
cf. 

.iIPy>  your  obedient 
L  PERRY." 


These  despatches,  brief,  clear,  modest,  penned  without  delib- 
•eration,  in  the  moment  of  victory,  have  a  deserved  celebrity. 

Captain  Perry  now  returned  to  his  own  ship,  to  receive  on 
her  deck,  in  presence  of  the  smaM  remnant  of  her  noble  crew 
the  commanders  of  the  captured  ileet.  As  he  came  over  the 
iside  of  the  Lawrence,  he  was  mat  by  her  surviving  officers. — 
Not  a  word  was  spoken, —  the  moment  was  too  solemn  for 
sjjeech.  Around  them,  the  bodies  of  their  slauglitered  com- 
rades lay,  where  they  had  fallen,  on  the  deck  that  was  slippery 
with  their  blood ;  and  the  sliip  resounded  with  the  groaiiis  of 
the  wounded.  Standing  on  the  after  part  of  the  deck.  Captain 
Perry  received  the  British  officers,  who,  in  appoaching  him, 
picked  their  way  over  the  slain.  In  a  low  voice  he  spoke  words 
of  dignity  and  kindness,  and  requesting  them  to  retain  their 

j  side  arms,  which,  with  hilts  towards  him,  they  had  proffered,  he 

7  inquired  with  unaffected  interest  for  Commodore  Barclay  and 

I  his  wounded  officers. 

This  proud  ceremony  over,  and  the  British  officers  having 
retired,  he  said  to  Mr.  Taylor,  about  sunset :  "  I  am  very  weary, 

:j  ^nd  should  like  to  sleep.     Shall  I  be  safe  liere?"     In  the  centre 


I 


of  the  deck  was  a  crowd  of  prisoners,  guarded  by  Mr.  Taylor 
and  two  or  three  of  his  men.  "  Have  ao  fear.  Sir,"  Mr.  Tay- 
lor replied  ;  "I  insure  your  safety."  And  overcome  by  the 
great  day's  work,  which  be  had  entered  on  still  feeble  from  fev- 
•er,  with  his  arms  crossed  on  his  breast,  and  his  drawn  sword  in 
his  hand,  he  lay  down  qui  the  deck  beside  the  slain,  and  slept. 

One  last  sad  duty  remained, — ^the  burial  of  the  dead.    Ac- 

•cording  to  usage,  the  men  were  committed  to  the  deep  that  they 

had  reddened  with  their  blood,  the  officers  were  carried  on 

i  shore.     The  surviving  officers  of  both  nations — in  the  reversed 

order  of  their  rank,  Captain  Perry  bringing  up  the  rear — fol- 

i  lowed  them  in  procession,  and  to  the  music  of  minute  guns,  fired 

I  by  turns  from  either  squadron,  and  a  dirge  by  their  united  bands, 


16 


the  bodies  worn  laid  in  their  prnves,  side  hy  side,  Rrifnn  am] 
American  afternately,  and  over  them  was  read,  in  the  language 
common  to  both,  the  impressive  burial-service  of  the  Anglican 
Church. 

The  number  of  kitted  and  wounded  in  the  British  stfuadron 
was,  according  to  Captain  Barclay's  oflicial  report,  41  killed  and 
'.>4  wonndetl ;  in  the  American,  27  killed  and  07  wounded, 
Avhereof  32  of  the  killed  and  CI  of  the  wounded  were  in  the 
Lawrence. 

My  fellow-citizens,  it  is  our  privilege  to  meet  here  to-tlay,  six 
survivors  of  that  renowned  battle,  three  oiFicers  and  three  men. 
The  officers  ajc,  our  townsmiin,  Ca])tain  W.  V.  Taylor,  whom, 
as  master  of  the  Lawrence,  we  have  already  several  times  had 
occasion  to  mention ;  who,  although  wounded,  never  left  the 
deck  of  that  devoted  ship,  and  who,  promoted  for  his  gallantry 
and  services  on  the  10th,  is  now,  and  has  been  for  many  years, 
a  post-captain  iii  the  navy. — Anottier  officer  of  the  Lawrence — 
directly  before  me — is  Dr.  Usher  Parsons,  now  of  Providence, 
who  with  alacrity  and  marked  skill  attended,  not  only  the  wound- 
ed of  his  own  ship,  but — ^his  two  colleagues  being  ill — those 
likewise  of  the  whole  squadron.  Being  himself  weak  from  re- 
cent illness,  he  had,  after  tlie  battle,  to  be  hoisted  in  and  out  of 
the  other  vessels ;  and  in  his  own,  he  performed  during  the  con- 
flict his  humane  duties,  exposed  like  the  rest  of  the  crew  to  tha 
shot  of  the  enemy  ;  for  so  shallow  was  the  Lawrence,  that  her 
cockpit  was  not  below  water,  and  one  or  two  of  the  wounded 
whom  Dr.  Parsons  dressed,  were  killed  at  his  side  as  they  passed 
from  under  his  hands.  —  Tl>e  third  officer  present  here  is  our 
townsman^,  Mr.  Thomas  Brownell,  second  in  command  of  the 
Ariel,  who,  being  lame  from  a  recent  a-^cident,  went  into  battle- 
on  crutches,  which  the  increased  warmth  of  his  blood  during  the- 
fisht  eiiabl/?d  hiiii  soon  to  throw  aside,  and  whose  fortune  it  was. 


1 


17 


lido,  Rriton  nnJ 

in  the  language 

(nf  the  Anglican 

British  scinadion 
|rt,  41  killed  and 
Id  97  woimded, 
fed  were   iti  tlie 

here  to-day,  six 
i  and  three  men. 
Taylor,  whom, 
everal  times  had 
never  left  the 
for  his  gallantry 
for  many  years, 
the  Lawrence — 
'■  of  Providence,, 
only  the  wonnd- 
being  ill — those 
f  weak  from  re- 
i  iu  and  out  of 
during  the  con- 
the  crew  to  the 
v^rence,  that  her 
)f  the  wounded 
as  they  passed 
ent  here  is  our 
3mmand  of  the 
vent  into  battle- 
ood  during  th» 
!  fortujie  it  was. 


to  witness  the  British  Hag  pulled  down  seven  times  on  the  Cana- 
da frontier.  Mr.  IJrowncU,  who,  like  Mr.  Taylor,  was  promoted 
after  one  action,  retired  for  a  number  of  years  from  tlio  navy,  ia 
which  he  is  now  a  lieutenant,  instead  of  being,  as  but  for  that 
voluntary  retirement  he  would  bo,  a  j)ost-captain.  The  men  arc 
Mr.  Reuben  Wright,  of  Providence,  who  carries  with  him  as  a 
memento  of  that  day,  a  scar  from  a  bullet  through  his  wrist ; 
our  townsman,  Mr.  George  Cornell,  who  was  also  wounded,  and 
was  one  of  the  few  spared  ou  the  Lawrence ;  and  Mr.  Istiac 
Peckham. 

These  our  fellow-citizens,  who  now  modestly  face  this  assem- 
blage, the  objects  of  its  deep  interest  and  sympathy,  it  is  by  the 
Avatch  just  forty  years  to  an  hour  since,  each  one  at  his  jiost,  do- 
ing there  his  brave  duty,  they  faced  on  Lake  Erie  the  cannon  of 
the  enemy.  For  us,  it  will  be  for  the  rest  of  our  lives  a  grateful 
remembrance,  that,  preferred  before  all  others,  we  have  been 
permitted  here  to  behold  tliese  brave  men,  and  for  ourselves,  and 
for  all  the  twenty-five  millions  of  oiu*  countrymen  for  whom 
they  fought  that  strong  fight,  to  greet  them  and  to  thank  them. 

Rhode  Island  has  claimed  this  victory  as  belonging  to  her. — 
When  Captain  Perry  obtained  the  command  on  Lake  Erie,  ho 
took  with  him  from  Newport,  as  we  have  seen,  a  large  number 
of  men  and  oilicers.  By  them  the  fleet  was,  first,  chiefly  built, 
and  then  largely  manned.  Our  townsman,  Mr.  Daniel  Turner, 
the  undaunted  commander  of  the  Caledonia,  and  whose  decease, 
as  Commodore  in  the  Navy,  his  numerous  friends,  his  native 
State,  and  the  whole  country  have  so  recently  mourned,  was  the 
commander  in  the  squadron  by  whom  Captain  Perry  set  most 
store,  and  it  was  he  and  Mr.,  now  Captain  Taylor,  who,  under 
the  direction  of  Captain  Perry,  superintended  the  rigging,  equip- 
])ing,  and  arming  of  the  fleet.  Four  of  the  nine  commanders, 
including  the  chief,  were  from  Rhode    Island,  and  from   our 


18 


town, — Perry,  Turner,  Almy,  anil  Cliaiuj)lin;  and  live  ol'  the 
oilier  oilicers, — Taylor,  Brownell,  Breeze,  Dunham,  and  Alex- 
ander Perry,  brother  ol"  the  Commodore  and  with  him  in  the 
Lawrence,  a  midslii])man  twelve  years  of  age.  l''nrther,  Caf)- 
tain  Perry,  after  he  had  fought  the  Ijawrence  until  she  had  nei- 
ther men  nor  guns  to  fight  with,  transferred  himself  to  the  Ni- 
agara, still  almost  untouched  by  the  enemy  ;  and  then,  bringing 
her  for  the  first  time  into  close  action,  by  a  movement  illustrious 
in  naval  annals  for  its  boldness  and  ]»rilliant  success,  decided  in 
a  few  minutes  the  battle,  he  having  thus  commanded  in  person 
the  two  large  vessels  successively  ;  so  that,  instead  of  four  of  the 
nine  commanders,  it  may  be  said  that  five  out  of  the  eiglit  were 
Rliode-Islmiders ;  and  these  five  coimnnndcd  fdrtij-savcii.  of  the 
fifty-four  guns  of  tlie  squadron.  Surely,  when  all  this  is  con- 
sidered, we  may  confidently  (^x])ect  that  History  will  ratify  the 
high  ckiim  jmt  forward  by  Rhode  Island. 

In  the  early  history  of  our  country  is  found  the  cause  why 
Rhode  Island  should  have  earned  sucii  an  honor.  Few,  proba- 
bly, even  of  this  company,  are  aware  that  in  Rhode  Island  or- 
iginated the  idea  of  a  national  navy,  and  the  first  official  act  for 
its  establishment.*  In  the  session  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
Rhode  Island  lield  at  East  Greenwich  in  August,  1775,  it  was 
voted,  that  their  delegates  to  the  Congress  be  instructed  "  to  use 
their  whole  influence  for  builduig,  at  the  Continental  expense, 
a  fleet  of  sullicient  force  for  the  protection  of  the  Colonies." — 
Accordingly,  on  the  3d  of  October  following,  these  instructions 
were  laid  bi^fore  the  Congress,  Asseml)lod  in  Philadelphia,  and 
on  tlie22d  of  December,  Congress  passed  resolutions  for  the  or- 
ganization of  a  fleet,  and  appointed  a  "Commander-in-Chief,'' 


-For  thcfic  fiicts  I  am  indcbtcil  to  Ihc  I'l-cfiicc  of  tlic  fitlmirablc  Lecture  on  tlio 
lliittlc  of  Lake  Ki-'w,  by  tlic  lion.  Tiistiuu  liiirjACs,  d(>liveiccl  before  the  lliatorical 
Soeiei y  of  llhoilc  Lunncl  in  1830,  nncl  published  in  Vi'3V. 


my 

nidi 

perl 


i 


,  iviul   live  of  th(j 
iiihani,  itiicl  Alex- 
with  liiivi  in  the 
:e.     Further,  Ca\i- 
mitil  she  had  nci- 
Ihimsclf  to  the  Ni- 
aud  then,  brin^fiiig 
ovcment  illustrious 
success,  decided  in 
nnianded  in  person 
istoad  of  four  of  the 
It  of  the  eight  were 
fortij-savi'ii.  of  the 
ica  all  this  is  con- 
story  will  ratify  the 

und  the  cause  why 
lonor.  Few,  proba- 
in  Rhode  Island  or- 
e  first  oflicial  act  for 
leneral  Assembly  of 
Lugust,  1775,  it  was 
0  instructed  "  to  use 
Continental  expense, 
■)f  the  Colonies." — 
;,  these  instructions 
!i  Philadelphia,  and 
solutions  for  the  or- 
nimander-in-Chief," 


idinirahlo  Lcctuio  on  tho 
'reel bclorc  the  Historical 


19 

four  captains,  five  nrst-lieufonants,  and  five  seoond-lioutoiinntE. 
Now,  the  coMiinnniicr-in-chii'f,  Esek  Ho])kiiis,  and  two  of  the 
ibnr  captains,  Abraliani  VVhippl(>  and  John  H.  Hopkins,  were 
from  Rhode  Island.  And  i'lnthcr,  three  of  the  five  first-lieuten- 
ants, and  four  of  the  five  second-lieutenants,  wore  from  Rhode 
Island.  And  furl  her,  the  only  man  in  the  United  States  that 
ever  has  borne  the  title  of  Aduiiral  was  a  Rhode-Islander,  Esek 
llopkin;^  And  under  Admiral  Hopkins,  the  first  fleet  sailed 
from  the  month  of  the  Delaware,  in  Fcibniary,  1770,  and  on  the 
3il  of  March  captured  JVew  Providence,  in  the  Bahamas,  carrying 
oil',  and  safely  landing  at  New  London,  a  large  amount  of  mili- 
tary stores,  at  that  crisis,  a  most  acceptable  booty.  Thus,  the 
first  American  fleet  that  ever  ])nt  to  sea,  was  commanded,  and 
mainly  officered  and  manned,  by  men  from  Rhode  Island,  It 
was  then  conse(pieiit,  tliat  llio  first  American  fleet  that  ever  over- 
came a  hostile  fleet,  should  be  chielly  commanded  and  largely 
manned  by  men  from  Pthode  Island. 

While,  on  the  10th  of  September,  the  cannon  were  thimder- 
ing  in  deadly  confiict  on  the  lake,  all  along  the  American  shore 
himdreds  of  mothers,  with  groups  of  children  clustered  round 
llieir  knees,  stood  listening,  with  such  terror  in  their  countenan- 
ces as  only  mothers  can  know  ;  ready,  should  the  day  go  against 
us,  to  llee  before  the  tomahawk  of  the  savage.  As  the  news  flew 
inland,  fear  was  changed  to  joy,  danger  to  security.  The  vic- 
tory of  Perry  released  the  whole  northwest  territory  fi'om  dread 
of  the  scalping-knife ;  it  broke  up  the  confederacy  of  Indian 
tribes  ;  it  wiped  out  the  stigma  of  Hull's  siu'iender  ;  it  enabled 
General  Harrison  immediately  to  invade,  by  help  of  the  Ameri- 
can fleet,  the  British  territory,  driving  out  or  capturing  their  ar- 
my, where  again  good  service  was  done  by  Perry,  as  vohmteer 
aid  to  Hariison  ;  it  led  to  the  overthrow  of  British  powcn'  in  U]i- 
per  Canada  and  on  lh(^  upjuM' lakes  :  and  the  innncnst' northwest 


20 


torritory  of  Uic  United  States  it  secured  against  British  invasion 
and  Indi;m  de|)rodati()n  tlioii  and  for  ever. 

Nor  was  the  effect  of  the  victory  upon  the  country  at  large, 
loss  brilliant.  It  came  at  a  time  of  d(!prcssion,  to  reanimate  the 
wlidle  land.  As  from  town  to  town  the  news  spread,  crowds 
gathered  in  the  streets,  to  utter  the  universal  joy  and  exultation. 
The  despondent  took  fresh  hope,  the  weak  grew  strong,  the 
strong  stronger :  the  spirit  that  had  kept  the  body  of  Perry 
erect  in  his  boat  lifted  up  the  whole  country. 

My  fellow-citizens,  between  a  people  and  its  heroes  there  is 
an  intimate  sympathy.  Its  heroes  and  its  men  of  genius  are 
the  richest  product  of  a  people.  Springing  out  of  its  soil,  they, 
in  the  affluence  of  their  creative  force,  throw  back  upon  the 
soil  whence  they  have  sprung  the  seeds  of  new  forces.  A  free 
people  generates  leaders,  to  strengthen  and  enlarge  freedom. — 
As  we  have  seen  in  the  Erie  fleet,  the  captain  and  the  rank  and 
file  are  worthy  one  of  the  other. 

A  people  who  have  so  nobly  wrought  their  innate  capacities, 
that  they  have  achieved  the  right  and  the  power  to  move  and 
speak  and  act  with  self-dependence  and  independence, — ^and  who 
by  habitual  watchfulness  and  action,  keep  themselves  liberated 
from  the  unmanning,  belittling  pressure  of  irresistible,  irrespon- 
sible power  above  them, — ^\vhercwith  all  the  rest  of  Christen- 
dom is  more  or  less  cursed, — such  a  people  carry  into  war  all  the 
requisites  of  victory,  with  a  fulness  of  possession  which  no  dis- 
cipline of  despotism,  no  bribes  of  glory,  can  ever  bring  about. — 
Their  sight  is  keener,  their  blows  are  quicker,  their  judgment  is 
cooler,  their  aim  is  surer ;  their  resistance  is  more  steadfast,  their 
assault  is  irresistible ;  there  is  more  life  in  them,  there  is  more 
manhood  in  them.  In  war,  as  in  peace,  men  are  efficient,  in  pro- 
portion as  they  are  free  ;  and  the  freest  nation  will  be  the  only 
one  that  is  invincible.    At  this  moment,  when  Europe  is  a 


hound! 

^tion,  t 

nation 

soldier 

citizen 

this  gr 

wark  ( 

produi 

So 

in  civi 

and  in 

and  tl 

"uate, 

as  the 

inesti 

that, 

ay,h 

will 

no  f(J 

wil 


21 


I  British  invasion 

[country  at  large, 
I  to  reanimate  the 
rs  spread,  crowds 
py  and  exultation, 
grew  strong,  the 
le  body  of  Perry 

ts  heroes  there  is 
en  of  genius  arc 

It  of  its  soil,  they, 
w  back  upon  the 
icw  forces.  A  free 
enlarge  freedom. — 
n  and  the  rank  and 

ir  innate  capacities, 
power  to  move  and 
endence, — and  who 
hcmselves  liberated 
irresistible,  irrespon- 
le  rest  of  Christcn- 
irry  into  war  all  the 
ssion  which  no  dis- 
ever  bring  about. — 
r,  their  judgment  is 
nore  steadfast,  their 
hem,  there  is  more 
are  efficient,  in  pro- 
on  will  be  the  only 
when  Europe  is  a 


1)0unJless  camp,  with  embattled  millions  equipped  for  dcstnic- 
M  tion,  the  most  formidable  military  power  on  the  globe  is  that 
nation  which,  with  its  twenty-five  millions,  has  but  ten  thousand 
soldiers,  and  a  little,  half-disorganized  navy.  Ay,  my  fellow- 
citizens,  among  the  lessons  which  we  arc  teaching  the  world  is 
this  great  one, — that  not  soldiers,  but  men,  constitute  the  bul- 
wark of  a  nation.  And  wc  are  teaching  it,  too,  the  method  of 
producing  in  countless  multitudes  these  sdf-reliant  men. 

^  So  long  as  we  continue  to  be  self-govcri>ed,  wc  shall  abound 
in  civil  strength  and  manhood,  and  therefore  in  military  strength 
:and  manhood.  Military  strength  does  not  create  civil ;  it  saj>s  it, 
and  thus  finally  itself;  but  civil  strength  docs  create  and  pcri)et- 
"uate,  without  loss  to  itself,  military  strength.  Guard  we,  then, 
as  the  most  prec-ious  birthright  ever  possessed  by  a  people,  our 
inestimable,  our  most  sacred  liberties.  And  then  no  fear  but 
that,  in  a  war  for  principles  and  right,  unconquerable  thousands, 
ay,  hundreds  of  thousands  will  swarm  to  our  flag  ;  and  the  sick 
will  again,  as  on  Erie,  crawl  up  from  their  beds  to  the  battle  ;  and 
no  fear  but  that,  from  the  bosom  of  a  people  thus  inspired,  there 
will  spring  up  to  lead  them  other  Decaturs,  other  Perrys. 


Tho 
of  July 
thut  pel 


A  l»  P  n  N  I)  1  \    A. 


Tho  following;  It'ttcr  to  Commodoto  ('Imuiicry,  wriUen  uliout  tlio  'iOtli 
of  July,  vividly  depicts  tlio  wants  and  tliu  fculiiigH  i»f  Capliiiii  Porry  lit 
that  period : — 

"Dkar  Sin: 

"Tlio  cncmy'H  floet  of  six  sail  arc  now  oft'  tliu  lar  of  tliis  liiivlmr. — 
What  a  gnldon  oppdrtimity  if  wo  liad  men  I  Their  object  is,  no  doubt, 
cither  to  blockade  or  attack  uh,  or  to  carry  proviwionH  and  icinforecnicnta 
to  Maiden.  Should  it  bo  to  attack  uf ,  wc  arc  ready  to  meet  them.  I  am 
constantly  lookinfr  to  the  eastward  ;  every  mail  and  every  traveller  from 
that  (juartcr  \h  looked  to  as  the  harbinger  of  the  ghid  tidings  of  our  men 
being  on  their  way.  I  am  fully  aware  how  much  your  time  niu.st  bo  occu- 
pied with  tho  important  concerns  of  tho  other  lake.  Give  me  men,  .'*ir, 
and  I  will  ac(iuire  both  for  you  and  myself  honor  and  glory  on  this  lake, 
or  perish  in  tho  attempt.  Concoivo  my  feelings ; — an  enemy  within  strilr 
ing  distance,  my  vessels  ready,  and  not  men  enough  to  man  them.  Going 
out  with  those  I  now  have  is  out  of  tho  question.  You  would  not  snfFcr  it 
were  you  here.  I  again  ask  you  to  think  of  my  situation  ; — the  enemy  in 
sight,  tho  vessels  under  my  command  more  than  sufficient,  and  ready  to 
make  sail,  and  yet  obliged  to  bite  my  fingers  with  vexation  for  want  of  men. 
I  know,  my  dear  sir,  full  well,  you  will  send  mo  tho  crews  for  tiio  vessels 
as  soon  a.s  po.ssiblc  ;  yet  a  day  appears  an  ago.  I  hojjc  that  the  wind,  or 
some  other  cause,  will  delay  tho  enemy's  return  to  Maiden  until  my  men 
arrive,  and  I  will  have  them.^^ 

Two  days  after  this  letter  was  despatched,  tho  British  squadron  being 
becalmed  off  the  harbor  of  Erie,  Captain  Perry  pulled  out  with  his  gun- 


li^' 


loats  to  nttnck  it.     After  a  fow  hliofa  had  been  cxcliangetl,  a  breeze  epring- 
hig  up,  the  enemy  stood  off 

On  the  23d  of  July,  ho  received  a  reinforcement  of  seventy  men  ami 
•fficorH  from  Counnndwro  Chnun«ey,  to  whom  h«  immcdiutely  wrote  as  fol- 
lows : — 

"  Mv  i)K\u  Sir. 

"  I  have  tliis  moment  had  the  v«Ty  great  jdcasurc  of  receiving  yours  by- 
Mr.  Champlin,  witli  tho  Hcvonty  men.  Tlic  enemy  arc  now  off  this  har- 
bor, with  tho  Queen  Charlotte,  Lady  Provost,  Chippeway,  Erie,  and 
Friend's  Good-Will.  My  vessels  are  all  ready.  For  God's  sake,  and 
yours,  and  mino,  hoikI  nro  men  ami  oiricor.s,  and  I  will  have  them  all  in  a 
day  or  two.  Gommodoro  IJanday  keeps  just  out  of  the  reach  of  ovrr  gun- 
boats. I  am  n!)t  able  to  ship  a  niiiglo  man  at  this  pla(;o.  I  shall  try  for 
volunteers  for  our  crulno.  Send  on  tho  connnandcr,  my  dear  sir,  foj  the 
Niagara.  Sho  is  a  noldu  Vassol.  Woolsey,  Brown,  or  Elliott  I  should 
like  to  soo  ama.'.ingly.  I  an>  very  defieient  in  officers  of  every  kind. — 
Bend  mo  officers  and  mvn,  and  honor  is  within  our  grasp.  The  vessels  arc 
all  ready  to  meet  the  enonvy  tho  nioineiit  they  are  officered  and  manned. — 
Our  sails  arc  bent,  provisions  on  board,  and,  in  fact,  every  thing  is  ready. 
Barclay  has  been  bearding  me  for  .several  diiys ;  I  long.  t»  have  at  him. — 
However  anxious  I  am  to  reap  tho  reward  of  llic  labor  and  anxiety  I  havo 
had  on  this  station,  T  shall  rejoitic,  wlwcvcr  commands,  to  see  this  force  on 
tho  lake,  and  surely  I  had  ratlicr  bo  commanded  by  my  friend  than  by  any 
other.     Barclay  sliowH  no  disp)sition  to  avoid  tho  contest." 

How  expressive  is  this  letter  !  Hero  lie  proposes  to  Commodore  Chaun- 
eoy  to  take  command  himself,  hoping  thereby  to  get  his  fleet  manned.  For 
tho  general  good,  ho  otters  to  sink  himself  into  a  subordinate,  and  foregO' 
the  present  hope  of  glory.  Goaded  again  by  aaother  appeal  from  General 
Harrison,  ho  again  writes  to  Connnodoro  Clwiuncey  : — 


"Sin: 
"  I  havo  this  moment  received,  by  express,  tho  inclosed  letter  from 
General  Harrison.     If  1  had  officers  and  men,  and  I  have  no  doubt  you 
will  aeiid  tUoin,  I  could  figjit  tho  enemy  and  proceed  up  tha  lake.     But, 


25 


ircezc  ppring- 

pty  men  and 
wrote  as  fol- 


ding yours  by 
off  this  liar- 
[y,   Erie,  and 
il's  sake,  and 
them  all  in  a 
h  of  our  gun- 
r  .shall  try  for 
ir  sir,  ff»5  the 
lliott  I  should 
every  kind. — 
riio  vessels  aro 
nd  manned. — 
hing  is  ready, 
lavo  at  him. — 
mxiety  I  havo 
e  this  force  on 
d  than  by  any 

lodoro  Cliaun- 

nanned.     For 

ite,  and  forcgo' 

from  (jleneral 


d  letter  from 

tio  doubt  you 

lake.     But, 


having  no  one  to  eonnnand  tlio  Niagara,  and  only  one  commissioned  lieuten- 
ant, and  two  acting  lieutenants,  whatever  my  wishes  n...y  I  j,  going  out  is 
oat  of  the  question.  Tiio  men  that  came  by  Mr.  Champlin  aro  a  motley 
set, — blacks,  soldiers,  and  boys.  I  cannot  think  you  saw  them  after  they 
were  selected.  I  am,  however,  pleased  to  see  any  thing  in  the  shapo  of  a 
man." 


APPENDIX    C. 

The  DLscourso  on  tho  Battle  of  Lake  Erio  by  Dr.  Usher  Parson.'^,  li- 
ing  written  by  an  eyewitness  of  high  character  and  intelligciK'o,  is  tho 
most  authentic  history  that  we  have  of  tliat  day.  From  this  Discourse,  de- 
llvcrnd  before  tho  Rhode  Island  Historical  Society,  in  1852,  I  extract  tho 
following  passage,  as  giving  a  graphic  picture  of  what  was  going  on  in  tho 
Lawrence  : — 

"  When  the  battle  had  raged  an  liour  and  a  half,  I  heard  a  call  for  mo 
at  tho  small  sky-liglit,  and  stepping  towards  it  I  saw  it  was  tlie  Cdnnno- 
dore,  whoso  countenance  was  as  calm  and  placid  as  if  on  ordinary  duty. — ■■ 
•  Doctor,'  said  he,  '  send  me  one  of  your  men  j'  moaning  one  of  the  six 
that  were  to  assist  mo,  which  was  done  instantly.  In  five  minutes  tho  call 
was  repeated  and  ol)eycd,  and,  at  the  seventh  call  I  told  him  he  had  them 
all.  He  asked  if  any  could  pull  a  rope,  when  two  or  three  of  tlie  woiuiiU 
od  crawled  upon  deck  to  lend  a  feeble  hand  in  pulling  at  the  hist  guns. 

"  When  tlio  battle  Was  raging  most  fcverely,  Mid.shiiiman  Lamb  canio 
down,  with  his  ann  badly  fractureii.  I  ajiplied  a  f-'plirit.  and  nnpicstcd 
him  to  go  forward  and  lie  down.  As  lie  Avas  leaving  me,  jind  Avliiie  my 
li:md  was  on  him,  a  caimen-ball  struck  liim  in  the  side,  and  dii.'-hod  aj.';:iin,-t 
tho  other  eido  of  the  room,  instantly  tertiiinuting  his  sufferings.     CharltH 


26 


Polrig,  a  Narragansctt  liuliiin,  who  wa.s  liadly  wounded,  h;uffered  in  like 
manner. ' ' 

"  There  were  other  incidents  less  painful  to  wilnetis.  The  Coinniodorc's 
dog  liad  seated  himself  in  the  bottom  of  the  closet  containing  all  our  crock- 
ery. A  cannon-ball  passed  through  the  closet,  and  smashed  crockery  and 
door,  covering  the  floor  with  fragments.  The  dog  set  up  a  barking  protest 
against  the  right  of  such  an  invasion  of  his  chosen  retirement. 

"  Lieutenant  Yarnall  had  his  scalp  badly  torn,  and  came  below  with  the 
blood  streaming  over  his  face.  Some  lint  was  hastily  applied,  and  confined 
with  a  large  bandanna,  with  directions  to  report  himself  for  better  dressing 
after  the  ])attlc,  as  he  insisted  on  returning  to  the  deck.  The  cannon-balls 
had  knocked  to  pieces  the  liammocks  .stowed  away  on  deck,  and  let  loose 
their  contents,  whicli  were  reed  or  flag  tops,  that  floated  in  the  air  like 
feathers,  and  gave  the  appearance  of  a  Know-.storm.  These  lighted  upon 
Yarnall's  head  eo\ered  with  blood,  and  on  coming  below  with  another  in- 
Jury,  his  bloody  ficc  covered  with  tiie  cat-tails,  made  his  bead  resemble 
that  (if  a  huge  owl.  Some  of  the  wounded  roared  out  with  laughter,  that 
the  Devil  had  come  for  us."' 


lid  in  like 

Ininotlorc's 

our  ciock- 

Dckcry  and 

|ciiig  protest 

ow  witli  tlio 

nil  confined 

tcr  dressing 

|cannon-bulls 

nd  let  loose 

the  air  like 

i;;hted  upon 

h  another  in- 

ead  resemble 

laughter,  that 


2'i 


OELEBRA^riON  OF  'I'lIF,  DAY. 

Satoud.vv,  th;  10th  of  Soptombor,  1853,  was  tlio  fortieth  aniiivorsnry  of 
tlio  IJ.ittlo  of  liiikc  Erie.  The  occasion  had  been  aniinally  celobratod  for 
niiny  years  by  tlic  Newport  Artillery,  a  corps  organized  in  17U  ;  which 
paraded  and  visit'nl  the  widow  of  Commodore  Perry,  in  honor  of  the  day 
rendered  illustrious  by  his  most  seasonable,  important,  and  noble  victory. 
D'irin,^  t'lo  last  two  or  three  years,  his  son,  who  is  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  the  law  at  Newport,  ha.s  eonnnanded  the  company ;  and  motives  cf  deli- 
cacy t!ms  interfered  with  the  usual  observance  of  the  day.  The  ni<'niber.s 
of  the  Newport  Artillery,  cherishing  with  honest  pride  tlie  memory  of 
I'erry,  and  attaclicd  from  patriotic  feeling  and  personal  associations  to  the 
anniversary  of  his  great  achievement,  were  desirous  of  a  more  omjiliatic 
and  general  eommomoration  than  had  yet  marked  its  return.  T!ie  lapse  of 
time  had  alread}'  thinned  the  ranks  of  the  survivors  of  the  battle,  altlioiigh 
most  of  those  engaged  were  young  men  ;  and  it  was  not  to  be  hoped  tliat 
cither  the  family  or  comrades  of  the  hero  would  long  !;e  spared  to  pratiti- 
pate  in  thj  eoremjaie.-s  of  such  an  occasum.  These  considerations  led  tlu  i;i 
to  propose  to  their  fellow-citizens  a  civic  and  military  celebration  woithy  of 
thj  oacinion.  Accordingly,  coaimitteos  were  appointeil,  tlie  soldiers  of  tii:> 
State  invited,  an  orator  ehosiiu,  and  all  tiie  participants  in  the  liattle  tliaf 
could  be  discovered,  courteously  urged  to  be  present.  Tliese  rirrangcnuMits 
wore  carried  into  effect  with  much  ;;eal  and  unanimity  ;  the  town  wa:-  dfcii- 
rited  with  flags,  flowers,  ami  nuittoes  ;  ati  am[)I('  cullation  was  served  uji  at 
ths  Ocean  Iloase,  a  large  procession  organized,  salutes  fircit,  imd  all  I  lie 
usual  demonstration.^  incident  to  ;;  national  holiday  provided.  NnUvitn- 
stauding  a  copious  shower  which  fell  at  tijo  hoiir  spcciiicl  I'nr  tlie  rorte<je 
to  start,  with  the  exceijtion  of  abridging  its  route,  these  arrangements  were 
fully  carried  into  e,Tjct.  Numerous  strangers  came  from  a  distance,  and 
mmy  of  the  summer  visitors  at  Newp  )rt  attended  the  ceremonies.  Geoigc 
II.  Cah'crt,  Esf(.,  of  Baltimore,  for  many  years  a  resident  there,  kindly 
ac  (ui^'<  \!  1  in  thj  wishes  of  liis  fellow-eili/.eiis,  and,  at  a  few  days'  notice, 
uudertoulc  to  address  them.     Tiit 


28 


niid  Pawtiickot  "nrass  Bancis  wore  in  attendance ;  tbn  officers  of  the  army 
garrisonod  lierc,  the  State  and  municipal  authorities,  the  professional  men 
of  t"ie  city,  the  fire  coiupanios  of  Newport,  and  one  from  New  liedford,  as 
well  as  the  Kentish  Guards  and  Warren  Artillery,  occupied  the  body-pews 
of  tlic  church ;  the  galleries  wore  appropriated  to  ladies,  and  the  platform 
to  the  survivors  of  the  battle.  Altogether,  the  Rccno  thus  presented  was 
t'lTjctive  and  uiomorable. 

After  appropriate  music,  the  Rev.  Henry  Jacksan  offjred  up  a  prayer 
which  he  prefaced  by  tlie  following  passages  of  Scripture  : — 

"The  liird  wroug'it  a  great  victory  that  day.  We  will  rejoice  in  thy 
salvation,  and  in  the  nam  j  of  our  God  we  v.'IU  set  up  our  l)anners.  Sonio 
trust  in  clnriots  and  some  in  horses  ;  but  we  will  remember  the  name  of 
t'n  L  ).-d  our  G\)d.  E.iter  his  gates  with  thaiilcsgiving,  and  into  his  courts 
wlt!i  piaise  ;  bo  thankful  unto  him  and  bless  his  name.  For  the  Lord  is 
g  >jd  :  liis  nurcy  is  everlasting;  and  his  truth  endureth  unto  all  genera- 
tions. By  terril)lj  tiling -i  in  rigliteousnoss  wilt  thou  answer  us,  0  God  of 
our  salvation  ;  who  art  the  confidence  of  all  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  of 
tliein  fliat  are  far  ofT  upfin  tlie  sea ;  which  stilloth  the  noise  of  their  waves, 
and  the  tumult  of  the  people.  The  Lord  bless  thee,  and  keep  theo ;  tho 
Liird  make  his  face  to  shine  upon  tlioa  and  be  gracious  unto  theo  ;  tho 
Lnrd  lift  up  his  countenance,  and  give  tliee  peace.  In  all  thy  ways  ac- 
kiiuwledge  him,  and  he  .shall  direct  thy  paths.  Ilia  riglit  hand  and  his 
holy  arm  hatli  gotten  him  tho  victory.  Ilightcousnoss  cxalteth  a  nation, 
bat  sin  is  a  reproach  to  any  people.  Fear  God,  who  made  heaven  and 
earth,  and  the  ,«oa.  Fear  God  and  keep  his  commandments,  for  this  is  tho 
wli  tie  duty  of  man." 

"The  orator,"  r-ays  tho  Newport  Mercury,  "  spoke  with  clearness  ami 
force.  He  seemed  to  have  drawn  strength  from  his  subject,  and  was  .sus- 
tained and  borne  along  by  the  p.atriotism  that  stirred  every  heart  on  that 
occasion.  His  narrative  of  tlio  battle  was  as  clear  and  conci.se  as  though 
Ke  had  participated  in  the  exciting  scenes  he  described,  and  those  best  able 
to  judge  of  its  correctness,  at  its  conclusion  gave  him  their  hearty  appro- 
l>atiou.  Uepeatodly  he  was  interrupted  by  the  plaudits  of  the  audience  ; 
and  when  he  addressud  the  survivors,  collectively  and  individually,  and 
(iiM  Oi"  tii'ir  do 'ds  of  (^iiiiiii  in   llioir  <'oiintry"s  causo.  forty  years  ago  that 


If  the  nrmy 
Isional  men 
JL'dforil,  as 
l)0(]y-pow8 
lie  platform 
fsented  was 


fP  ^  prayer 

ioicG  in  tliy 
rs.     Sonio 

he  name  of 

)  his  courta 
tho  Lord  is 

all  geiiora- 
S  0  (Jod  of 
u'th,  and  of 
heir  waves, 
}  tlico;  tbo 

thee  ;  tlio 
ly  ways  ac- 
nd  and  his 
th  a  nation, 
eavcn  and 
•  this  is  tliQ 


29 


very  hour,  tbo  feelinjifs  of  his  hearers  found  vont  in  th«  most  onthasiastic 
applause.  And  on  tke  close  of  the  address,  forgetting  tho  place,  lost  to 
every  thing  but  tho  eseitement  of  tho  moment,  they  arose  as  one  man,  and 
gave  three  hearty  chuers.  Then  came  congratulations  on  all  sides,  every 
cyo  bespeaking  pleasure,  every  familiar  band  extended  to  grasp  that  of  tho 
orator ;  all  were  hapjjy,  all  burned  with  the  patriotban  enkindled  in  their 
licarts. 

' '  The  ceremony  over,  the  procession  again  formed-  The  rain  liad  ceased 
to  tall,  tho  clouds  were  breaking  away,  and  in  half  an  hour  the  sun  was 
shining  brightly.  The  procession  moved  north  to  tlic  Liberty  Tree,  down 
Thames  Street,  to  Howard  Street,  up  Howard  to  Spring  Street,  up  Spring 
to  Turo  Street,  and  so  round  to  the  Ocean  House,  where  a  collation  had 
,bcen  provided  for  the  company.  Hon.  Robert  B.  Cranston  presided  at 
•the  table.  -On  his  right  hand  .sat  the  orator  and  the  clergyman,  the  eurvi- 
vors,  officers  of  tko  army  and  navy,  an.d  others  ;  and  on  the  left,  the  Gov- 
■ornor  and  suite,  and  invited  guests. 

"  Tho  Hall  of  the  Ocean  House  was  ta.stefully  decorated  with  flags, 
shields,  and  mottflcs,  and  the  Uiblos  were  elegantly  furnished,  and  we  heard 
but  one  expresaiijn  on  tho  part  of  the  guestd, — numberiii^  about  sLx  hun- 
*lrod, — tliat  of  ailisfaction.'' 


arnoss  and 
d  was  sus- 
u-t  on  that 
as  though 
e  best  able 
rty  nppro' 
audience  ; 
ually,  and 
s  :igo  (hilt 


au 


SURVIVORS   OF    THE   BATTLE   OF    LAKE    ERIE. 

Post-Cai'tatn  WILLI  A:M  V.  TAYLOR. 
Lieutenant  THOMAS  lUtOWNELL. 
Dr.  USUER  parsons. 
Mil.  GEORGE  CORNELL. 
Mr.  REUIJEN  WRIGHT. 
Mr.  ISAAC  PECKIIAM. 


Tub 
clh  An 
1813,  i 
below. 

A  sa 

Govern 

invited 

The 

d'lrooti 


COMMITTEE   OF    ARRANGEMEN  PS. 

Colonel  C.  G.  TERRY. 

LiEUT.-CoL.  THOMAS  R.  CARR. 

Major  WILLIA:\I  II.  STANHOPE. 

Captain  BENJA]MIN  M.VRSH,  2a. 

C.  W.  TURNER.    Clcrh  ami  Qnnrtermaster. 

J.  ALFRED  HAZARTt. 

PPJLEG  CLARKE. 

R.  B.  CRANSTON. 

WILLIAM  R.  SWAN. 

R.  J.  TAYLOR. 

IL  E.  TURNICR. 

GEORGE  C.  MASON. 

THOMAS  R.  SIlEltM.\N 

JOHN  ELPllEl). 


31 


RRIE. 


ORDER  OF  ARRANGEMENTS 

ton   TIIK   CELEBnVTION    OF    TIIE    IOtII    OF    HEl'TKMBER. 

TuE  public  are  cordially  invited  to  unite  in  the  celebration  of  tho  Forti- 
eth Anniversary  of  the  Victory  on  Luke  Erie,  on  the  10th  of  September, 
1813,  in  tho  city  of  Ncwp:)rt,  acconling  to  the  iirniiigcmcnts  published 
below. 

A  salute  will  bo  fired  by  the  Artillery  Conipiiny,  on  tho  arrival  of  tho 
Governor  and  suito,  who  will  then  bo  escorted  to  the  State  House,  and  tho 
invited  guests  will  occupy  the  llopresentativos'  Hall. 

Tho  procession  will  bo  formed  on  the  Parade  at  10  o'clock,  under  tho 
direction  of 

Chief  IMarslml 
WILLIAM  B.  SWAN, 

Assisted  by  Messrs. 

John  Eldred, 
William  II.  Groono, 
Cliarlcs  Devens,  Jr., 

C.  C.  Van  Zandt, 

James  V.  Stevens. 

Military  of  the  State. 

Firo  Uepartment. 

Chief  Marshal  and  Aids. 

Orator  and  Chaplain. 

Survivors  of  the  Battle. 

Officers  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  Navy,  and  Revenue  Marine. 

Surviving  Officers  and  IShn  of  tho  War  of  1812. 

Sheriff  of  Newport  County. 

Governor  of  the  Htato  and  Aids. 

Major-Gcncral  and  Aids. 

General  Stall". 

Brigadier-General,--  and  Staff 


3'I 

Cfyil  Officers  of  tlio  Unitci4  States. 

Civil  OfficcrH  of  the  State, 

City  Mnrslinl 

Mayor,  Aldornicn,  and  Comman  Council,. 

MurHhalH. 

Invited  Guestn. 

Citizens  and  Strangers  on  foot. 

Citizen.s  and  Strangers  on  Iloreeback. 

The  procession  will  move  up  Broad   Street  to  the  Hay  Scales,  down 

Spring  Street  to  Howard,  down  Howard  to  Thainc.«,  up  Tliunies  to  Marl- 

l)orougli,  up  Marlborougli  to  Farewell,  up  Farewell  to  the  North  Church,, 

iirlicro  the  foHowing  order  of  exercises  will  be  observed  : — 

Music  by  the  U.  S.  Band. 

Prayer  by  Bcv.  Henry  Jacki-on. 

Music  by  Newport  I3ra.s8  Band. 

Address  by  Georok  H.  CAtvEnx,  Esq. 

Music  by  the  TT.  S.  Band. 

Benediction. 
Voluntary  on  tfto  Organ. 

Returning,  the  i)roce8sion  will  move  up  Farowcll  StVcct  to  the  Liberty 
Tree,  down  Thames  Street  to  Wa.shingtou  Square,  up  Touro  Street  to  the 
Ocean  House,  -where  a  collation  will  bo  scrvetl  by  John  G,  We.vveu,  Esq.,, 
to  the  military,  firemen,  and  invited  guests. 

A  sufficient  number  of  police  will  bo  in  aftendanco,  to  enforce  order 
tbroughout  the  day. 

By  order  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements. 

UfiNBY  E.  TuRNun,  Secretary, 


726^1 


7 


yr  Scales,. down 
iinics  to  Marl- 
North  Church,, 


to  the  Liberty 
0  Street  to  the 
Vkaver,  Esq.,, 

enforce  order 

ents. 
Stcrelary. 


